FIND US ON

If you want to combine your language skills with a vocational subject, then this joint honours degree is a great choice for you.

Course overview

It enables you to shape your study according to your strengths, interests and career ambitions. Combining two subjects can give your degree an international or industry perspective that will make you stand out in the graduate employment market.

Our flexible curriculum has been designed to create some amazing opportunities for you. You have the opportunity to spend your third year studying at a partner university in France or Italy or working in a French or Italian-speaking country. It’s also possible to opt for a short work placement module in the second half of your second year.

By choosing French and Italian you’ll enjoy the freedom to choose from a wide range of modules, depending on your own preferences and interests.

Levels of study

Beginner

GCSE

Post A-Level

French

NO

NO

YES

Italian

YES

YES

YES

Study this course full-time with a year abroad (sandwich) or part-time. See How to Apply section for more information.

What you'll study

French

French can be studied from A-level. By the end of your degree you’ll have a high level of fluency and accuracy in spoken and written French. Throughout the degree we’ll explore French culture and you’ll also gain an in-depth understanding of contemporary French society.

Italian

Italian can be taken from beginner, GCSE or A-level. You will study the Italian language, country and culture through a range of lively options. This includes modules that examine film, literature, art, society and politics.

You will achieve a high level of communicative skill, and an in-depth understanding of the Italian culture and society. To further increase your career options you can take a final year module to help you develop translation and interpreting skills.

Year One

Core modules

French Language One

The module focuses on developing both your understanding of key issues in contemporary French culture and society, and your key communicative skills in French: listening, speaking, reading, writing.

Introduction to French Politics, Society and Culture

Learn about the key issues and events that have shaped French culture and society since the middle of the 20th Century. Your findings on the themes and ideas which have shaped French society will be complemented by a discussion of what they represent in contemporary and contemporaneous visual and written texts.

Italian Language One (Accelerated beginners)

The core language module will help you to develop skills in speaking, writing, listening and reading. You don't have to have any prior knowledge of the language. This module will help you to communicate effectively in numerous real life situations, whilst building language and learning skills.

Italian Language One (Post A-level)

This module is designed to reinforce your language learning and communication skills by encouraging you to engage with material in a range of media (written, electronic, audio-visual). You'll explore grammatical knowledge and be able to participate actively with your class, small groups and paired discussions in Italian.

Texts and the Cities

This module will allow you to study the key issues and events that have shaped Italian culture and society since the collapse of the Roman Empire to the Independence wars of the mid 19th Century. You'll be provided with expansive knowledge of pre-modern and modern Italy so that you can reflect on the impact that its had on western culture in terms of culture, society and politics.

Year Two

Core modules

French Language Two

The core language module, developing skills in speaking, writing, listening and reading. You'll develop fluency and accuracy in the spoken and written language as well as learning skills, grammar, and other transferable skills such as spoken debates and presentations.

Italian Language Two (Accelerated beginners)

The module will help enhance your fluency and accuracy of both written and spoken Italian. You'll develop your essay writing techniques and your grammar will be developed further. This module will help prepare you practically and linguistically for an extended residence abroad.

Italian Language Two (Post A-level)

This module will help you to develop your fluency and accuracy of written and spoken Italian.Through the use of various tasks such as, video analysis, summaries and translations you'll develop your language learning knowledge, grammar and other transferable skills.This module will help prepare you practically and linguistically for an extended residence abroad.

French optional modules

Film, Novel and Social Transformation in France (1950-1980)

Analyse films and novels, concentrating on a series of representations of the traumatic transformation of France during the postwar decades of economic growth. You will explore central themes such as Americanisation, the transformation of everyday life and France's changing place in the world.

Le Cas 68

Examine the events of May / June 1968 in France as one of the most important historical events since the Second World War. The module will focus on in-depth analysis of the roles played by the numerous protagonists, examination of primary sources, assessment of the portrayal of the “events” in the media and literature, and an evaluation of the legacy of 1968.

Languages at Work

You'll be offered the opportunity to take part in a language themed work placement where you'll work with a local employer for a minimum of 30 hours and produce a piece of writing which reflects on the experience.

Italian optional modules

Italian Culture and Society

Analyse the principal events that have shaped modern Italy’s political and social structures. You'll analyse the way various events were reflected upon in the visual arts, cinema and through literature texts. The module will help you to become more aware of the issues in contemporary Italian history and culture by exploring areas of specialisation.

Made in Italy. Creativity and Business Practices (Post A-level)

Creativity and Business Practices – Explore some of the major areas of Italian creativity such as fashion, design, tourism and industry and build communication skills in Italian for business purposes. This module will help prepare you linguistically and culturally as you learn about business structures and organisations. The preparation from this module will strengthen your employability opportunities.

Languages at Work

You'll be offered the opportunity to take part in a language themed work placement where you'll work with a local employer for a minimum of 30 hours and produce a piece of writing which reflects on the experience.

Year Three

In Year Three, you can spend time working or studying in France. Our partner universities are found in Aix-en-Provence, Clermont-Ferrand, Lille, Strasbourg, Nice, Besançon, Montpellier, and Versailles.

OR

In Year Three you can spend time working or studying in Italy. Our partner universities are found in Cagliari, Perugia, Urbino, and Verona.

Final Year

Core modules

Capstone Project

This is a specialist project which allows you to combine practical learning with subject-specific theories. This module offers you the opportunity to develop and in-depth project where you can demonstrate skills such as planning, organisation and research skills.

OR

Real-Life Work Project

Students who are unable to take the year abroad as part of their degree produce a Real-Life Work Project during their final year. Working closely with an employer you'll identify, discuss, develop and deliver a project that is both beneficial for the employer and will enhance your employability options. You'll also provide a synoptic assessment where you'll highlight how your degree in the Modern Languages programme has developed you as a person, academically and as a graduate.

French Language Three

The core language module, will help you to develop skills in speaking, writing, listening and reading. You'll also focus on developing your accuracy and fluency within the written and spoken language of French. You'll develop high-level critical and analytical skills where you can apply linguistic and socio-cultural awareness and analysis to contemporary documents.

Italian Language Three

Building on previous years of language, you'll be able to maximise your fluency and accuracy in the written and spoken language of Italian. You'll analyse key contemporary issues in Italian society and address these issues within your communication. You'll be able to develop high-level critical and analytical skills where you can apply linguistic, research skills and socio-cultural awareness to a range of written and aural texts.

French optional modules

Contemporary France: Texts in Transition

Develop your awareness of French culture and society, by studying a range of films and written texts which reflect cultural debates critical to contemporary France. This module will give you an enhanced, critical and diverse understanding of writing styles and different forms of visual texts.

La France et l’Europe

Explore the relationship between France and Europe with a particular emphasis on the European Union. This module will explore the relationship between France and Europe with a particular emphasis on the European Union. You'll also explore the different changes that have occurred in French perspectives on Europe over the last six decades.

Translation and Interpreting

Develop your ability to interpret into and out of French and learn what it is like to be a professional interpreter in a major international organisation. You'll gain skills to help you endeavour tasks such as translation and interpreting as well as be prepared with a selection of theoretical and practical issues.

The Limits of Representation: Text and Image in French Culture and Society

Explore the different ways that text and image are combined in the form of signs, advertising, maps and calendars. You'll look at how the relationship between these two forms are in constant negotiation with each other.

Italian optional modules

Interpreting and Translation

Learn what professional interpreting and translation entail and practise techniques in interpreting and translation, simulating real, practical situations. This module will offer you some practical preparation that will help you acquire skills that are actively sought by employers.

Contemporary Italy

This module will focus on issues within contemporary Italian history and culture, honing in to the specific political and social issues which will prepare you with a detailed knowledge of Italian culture and society.

Course specification

NTU’s Italian courses are Number One in the UK for student satisfaction (NSS 2018).

How you’re taught

How will I learn?

Each year you’ll choose a range of core and optional modules from the lists above. The first year is normally divided equally between the two joint honours subjects but at the end of Year One, you’ll have the opportunity to select between an equally weighted joint honours course and a more specialised pathway, depending on your interests.

Teaching principally takes place through a combination of lectures, where tutors introduce the key ideas, and seminars, where smaller groups discuss those ideas.

Contact hours

If you’re struggling with a topic or require additional support or guidance, you can arrange to see your tutors in small groups or one-to-one, to discuss essay plans or to seek some specific academic guidance.

It is the nature of the subjects offered in the School of Arts and Humanities, however, that much of your time will be spent engaged in independent study. We recognise that this marks a change of culture from school or college, and we have in place a system of study support to help you adapt to this.

International exchange

You’ll also have the option to take part in an international exchange at a partner university. These options will enable you to gain impressive international experience, and broaden your perspective and career ambitions.

You’ll experience other cultures, travel the globe and open your eyes to a world of opportunities. Our exchange partnership with a number of international universities enables you to live and study in another country in your second year. Find out more.

Learn a new language

Alongside your study you also have the opportunity to learn a new language. The University Language Programme (ULP) is available to all students and gives you the option of learning a totally new language or improving the skills you already have.

Staff profiles

Careers and employability

Your career development

This is a major part of the curriculum. Key transferable skills are emphasised and there are opportunities to develop links with organisations and potential employers. As a result we have an outstanding record of graduate employment.Joint honours courses develop a wide range of skills. These include:

written and oral communication skills

critical analysis

the ability to work independently and in groups

time management

self-motivation

a variety of IT skills.

Entry requirements

104 UCAS tariff points from up to four qualifications (two of which must be A-level equivalent, including A-level French grade C)

GCSEs - English and Maths grade C / 4.

If you are unsure whether the qualifications you have, or are currently studying for, meet the minimum entry requirements for this course, please contact us before submitting an application through UCAS.

Getting in touch

If you need any more help or information, please email our Admissions Team or call on +44 (0)115 848 4200.

We accept qualifications from schools, colleges and universities all over the world for entry onto our courses. If you’re not sure how your international qualification matches our course requirements please visit our international qualifications page.

English language entry requirements

If English is not your first language you need to show us that your language skills are strong enough for intensive academic study. We usually ask for an IELTS test and we accept some alternative English language tests.

Make sure you check the entry requirements above carefully before you do.

Writing your application and personal statement

Be honest, thorough and persuasive in your application. Remember, we can only make a decision based on what you tell us. So include all of your qualifications and grades, including resits or predicted grades.

Your personal statement is a really important part of your application. It’s your chance to convince us why we should offer you a place! You've got 4,000 characters to impress us. Make sure you use them to show how your skills and qualities are relevant to the course(s) you’re applying for. For more hints and tips, take a look at our page on how to write a good personal statement.

Keeping up-to-date

After you've applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.

You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page. Good luck with your application!

Getting in touch

If you need any more help or information, please email our Admissions Team or call on +44 (0)115 848 4200.

You can apply directly to the University for an undergraduate course if you’re not applying to any other UK university in the same year. If you are applying to more than one UK university you must apply through UCAS.

Apply as early as you can so that you have time to prepare for your studies. If you need a visa to study here you need to plan this into your application.

For a step by step guide on making an application to the University please visit our how to apply page.